National tourism bodies have urged the Administrative Reform Council to issue a statement to the international community clarifying the coup in order to rebuild confidence among tourists.

The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have expressed concern over the potential impact the coup may have on the tourism industry and the overall economy.

Yesterday international tourists were queuing up at Don Muang Airport to catch flights home, while many local travellers had also cut their trips short.

The TCT said it expected fewer tourists would come to Thailand for at least a month, while the ATTA said tourism could be affected for up to three months.

TCT's president Kongkrit Hiyanyakit called on the council to issue a statement advising all nations on Thailand's political situation as soon as possible.

"The council must make the statement itself...instead of TAT or the Foreign Affairs Ministry because those two bodies are too weak to do such a thing," said Kognkirt.

Apichart Sankary, president of the ATTA, said the coup would make the political picture clearer putting to end the chaos of nearly three years.

"The [coup] will bring good news for the country. However, if we can't end it quickly, tourists might end up staying away from Thailand for [up to] three months," he said.

The TCT, the TAT and the ATTA intended to hold further discussions on the matter yesterday.

Somchai Sujjapongse, deputy director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office, said the coup would affect the economy, especially the tourism sector.

"We have to wait to see what the next move of the Administrative Reform Council will be," Somchai said. "Regardless, I believe that this political activity should not affect foreign investors' confidence in the country because the coup was undertaken with clear rationale. But if the military leaders hold on to power for too long, it may affect investment because foreign investors will have less confidence in a military regime. Therefore, an election should be held as soon as possible. If the general election is delayed for another three months, it will adversely affect the economy."

The general manager of Chaophya Park Hotel and Resorts, Andrew Wood, said though there may be an increased military presence in some key areas around Bangkok such as Parliament and the palace, very little else would change.

Tourists will still be at the beach, visiting temples and tourist attractions, playing golf, and eating and drinking as normal. He said it was unlikely that a curfew would be imposed as the military was keen to restore normalcy as soon as possible.

Wood said occupancy at Chaophya hotels had dropped from 74 per cent to 51 per cent and many government functions had been cancelled.

This story was repeated around town, but is nowhere near as bad as the 1991 coup when looting caused a mass exodus and hotel occupancy plummeted across town. People appear to be remaining calm this time around and both local international guests are likely to have a good understanding of the political background of the coup, he surmised.

Some countries have issued travel warning to their citizens.

The Australian government has recommended that its citizens avoid travelling to Thailand and that Australians already here exercise caution. "Avoid demonstrations and political rallies as they have the potential to turn violent. You should stay indoors, monitor the media, and follow the instructions of the local authorities," the advisory stated. Employees at the Australian Embassy have been advised not to send their children to school until the situation on the ground stabilises.

The United Kingdom has also stated on its web-site that tourists should avoid moving around the city as much as possible.

Many countries advised against all but essential travel to the southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Songkhla, where there is continuing violence due to a separatist insurgency. On September 16, four bombs exploded in the town of Hat Yai, killing four and injuring approximately 68. A Canadian man was killed and a number of foreign nationals injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) confirmed yesterday that Suvarnabhumi Airport would start full operations on September 28 as scheduled.

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) has said that it is maintaining normal operations for both domestic and international flights, yet all passengers departing Bangkok are advised to check with their airline beforehand.

Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said the association would closely monitor the situation in Thailand. He said the situation would improve shortly despite the travel advisories issued by some countries.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation